Customer Reviews

The Last Bachelor

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Actually, I was NOT looking forward to reading this book. I picked it up at a used book store, an unknown (to me) author, and was sure I would be disappointed. But once I started the book, I couldn't put it down! I have read many, many romance books and very few do I end up liking both the hero and heroine through the story. Usually, while reading a romance, I end up saying "What a jerk!" for something he's done, or "She's an idiot!" for something she's done. With this book, the story is so realistic, so well written, I loved both characters from beginning to end. I snickered, I laughed out loud, I cried, and it was steamy and one of the most romantic stories I have ever read. I am looking for more books by this author in hopes that it isn't a fluke.

Lady Antonia Paxton has an interesting reputation among the prominent and wealthy men of London. She is the infamous Lady Matrimonia, who champions young widows with nowhere else to turn. Antonia sponsors these ladies in her home, and when each is courted by a well-heeled bachelor, she then crashes their love nest to catch them in a compromising position, thus forcing the man to offer marriage to avoid scandal. She steadfastly believes marriage is the only way these women can be properly provided for and protected.

Remington Carr, the Earl of Landon, is known for his extremely controversial views on the subjects of marriage and womens' rights. He believes marriage should be abolished, and women should be allowed to work and independently support themselves. When a group of Antonia's disgruntled husbands gather to complain of their bachelorhood demise, they enlist the help of Remington in teaching Antonia a lesson that will end her matchmaking career.

When Antonia and Remington meet, the sparks really fly, in more ways than one. The gauntlet is tossed down and a wager is made. Remington is to report to Antonia's house for a period of two weeks, and do an average woman's work each of those days. If by the end of that time, he hasn't changed his mind concerning the nature of women's worth and work, she will then do an average man's work for a two-week period.

The wager becomes more than either bargained for. Antonia has a whole host of older widow ladies residing with her who become Remington's teachers. And the pupil has his own ideas while in close proximity to Antonia. To seduce her into his bed. But what will happen when the "dragon of decency" falls in love with the "ladies man"?

This isn't your run of the mill romance novel. This story is interesting, witty, and unique, with multi-faceted characters that capture your heart and emotions. Antonia's ladies are endearing, and an exceptional addition to the story as secondary characters. Overall, this is a well-written book, and the first for me by this author. There was one problem that prevented me from giving it five stars. This book is 519 pages long, and it took me six days to read. If I'm really engrossed in a story, it takes me an average of one to two days to finish it. While I love detailed stories where I feel like I really know the characters, this had a plodding quality to it, and I couldn't stay with it for very long at a sitting. I think it may have been better edited down to pick up the pace. Overall, it was still worth the time, and I never considered not finishing it. Ms. Krahn is obviously a gifted writer, and I will be trying out more of her work.

I so disagree with the high-starred reviews. In my opinion, this story missed the mark with an unlikeable and shallow hero and heroine. I expect implausible story lines and that's fine but I must develop some connection with the hero and heroine that is, well, likeable.

The Earl of Landon opposes marriage but supports women's rights to support themselves. Lady Paxton believes women should marry for it is the duty of men to support and protect the lovely ladies.

The widowed Lady Paxton lives with a dozen elderly widows she has rescued from possible penury. Younger widows have also stayed with Lady Paxton until she is able to catch a bachelor and the young woman in a compromising position -- culminating in marriage.

Ex-bachelors are up in arms over Lady P's method of entrapping them. They enlist the Earl's help for revenge.

There is a wager between the Earl and the Lady. The Earl thinks it would be great if women could be trained to work. Lady Paxton sets out to prove how able and capable they are. So where is the argument? Ah, the Earl wants to abolish marriage and Lady P wants to see all women married and taken care of. So, for two weeks he will learn from the women and, in turn, Lady P will take on a man's tasks. The first scene starts out amusingly enough when the Earl is forced to don a corset.

And then the story turned from amusing to too tasteless to be enjoyed. Our hero shows himself to be an insensitive lout who just wants an excuse to be near the lady so he can seduce her. Lady Paxton, with all her fine morals, goals and quick wit, turns into a witless and foolish tramp every time he is in the vicinity. Despite a house full of elderly women and newspaper men covering the wager outside the door, climbing trees etc., the H/H constantly fall into an inappropriate clinch -- or more. Over and over again. The scenes were not romantic or particularly sensual. I simply could not like the shallowness of either character. At this point I started skim reading and finally skipping pages until I was near the end. The finale was too ridiculous to be entertaining.

This story reminds me of a meal gone wrong. The quality of it is tasteless but, plenty of it is served. I have read other books by this author that I enjoyed but, I recommend skipping this one.

Yet another terrific story from Ms. Krahn. This is the fourth of her books that I've read and enjoyed and this and "The Mermaid" are my favourites so far. A Victorian battle of the sexes that leads to some very witty and sweet moments. Two lead characters that you just adore and root for eventhough they are at cross purposes - at least in the beginning!

Remington Carr, Earl of Landon is a proponent of women's rights and an opponent of marriage. He suggests that marriage should be abolished and both men and women should earn their own way. No more kept women sitting around eating bon-bons! Antonia Paxton is appalled and disgusted by these views. Being a widow, she knows first hand that marriage is the only place where a woman can feel safe, protected and provided for. She has taken several widows with no where else to go into her home and has helped marry off several more. When she and Remington meet 1. sparks fly and 2. she challenges him to a wager. He does "women's work" for two weeks and if he changes his opinion he must publicly retract his past statements; if he does not, she will then do two weeks of "men's work". Needless to say, these role reversals offer lots of very funny moments and both think they're so slick! And by the end of the wager both find themselves very far from their original positions and desperately in love!

Ms. Krahn writes some great dialog - wry and sardonic - and creates a very authentic Victorian atmosphere. Queen Victoria makes an appearance and the scurrilous Fleet Street tabloids also play a big part in the story. But the heart of the story are the roles of men and women and the value of marriage. And the stars are Remington and Antonia - with a terrific supporting cast including Antonia's "ladies" and Remington's uncle Paddington.

Read and enjoy!

When I started the book, I couldn't put it down! I have read quite a few romance books every month and this is one of the best. I loved Remington and Antonia. The "wager" was so unique through the whole story. Too many times I feel the heroine is a ninny but Ms. Krahn has a great talent for creating super characters, such as all those sweet old ladies. The very knowledgeable Cleo was precious. I can hardly wait to start "The Perfect Mistress". So many of her books are rated 5* and I agree. I definitely recommend this entertaining book. She has written so many and I am trying to find as many as I can. I check all my UBS in the area and then browse all the auction sites.

This story on the battle of the sexes during Victorian times, takes you on a wonderful rollercoaster ride. Other reviewers have done a marvellous job of reviewing this book. So, I won't do that, but, I have to give you my 5 cents worth.
I found the chemistry between the H/H was nothing short of amazing and so hot.

The sparks that fly between them, the 'dragon of decency' and the 'ladies man' causes for great laughter. There were some really funny scenes which were LOL moments. Especially when the earl has to dorn a corset and do 'womens' work, and is seen. (As you can imagine he'd rather be dead then be caught wearing that, and caught, he is) But he's made a wager and pride makes him go through it. And also his immense attraction to the heroine, which he least expected.
Remington and Antonia are such well-round characters and so brilliantly written that you experience every emotion with them.

Their road to falling in love, amongst all the choas, is what keeps you riveted to the story. At times, this book had me scoffing, laughing, and in tears. Really, really great stuff, this.

And the secondary characters, the widows, are an endearing lot of older women who lives with Antonia, with match-making on their mind. And of course, there's Remington's uncle, the charming but sometimes clueless, Sir Paddington.

This book is longer then other romance novels, but it's so darned, romantic, sigh, and so well written, that you don't care.
A great read!

Betina Krahn has a winner here. It is so well written, it could serve as a model for the writers of romance. She is fast becoming a favorite author of mine with her detailed, well crafted stories. This one is yet another worthy installment. And, at 500+ pages, she gives you your money's worth, taking time to develop what other authors would give short shrift to.

Set in London in 1882, a beautiful young widow, Lady Antonia Paxton, occupies her time with saving widows and trapping gentlemen into marrying them by using their own perfidy against them. When a bachelor seeks to take a young widow's virtue--albeit a woman he's ostensibly been courting--Antonia follows them and, interrupting, forces the man to do the gentlemanly thing and marry the girl. With 13 marriages to her credit, the men of White's club in London become concerned. They decide they must see the Dragon Lady of Matrimonia brought down, and what better man to do it than Remington Carr, Lord Landon? A confirmed bachelor, handsome as Lucifer, who advocates the vote for women and sending "surplus women" off to work to earn their keep, he is antimarriage. Antonia, on the other hand, believes marriage a noble state and the salvation of many a widow. She offers Remington a wager...two weeks of women's work to change his mind about a woman's place. And if his mind isn't changed, she will do two weeks of a man's work. He accepts the wager thinking to seduce her, but Antonia has her own plans.

Krahn had me laughing out loud when Remington put on a corset (after all, how could he do work as a woman does without having to bear the restrictive garment?). You will be amazed at the history contained in this seemingly light romance. It isn't really light at all. It's a meaningful tale of what widows suffered in Victorian times, when they were raised to be wives and mothers but were left bereft with no way to earn income. Remington is an intelligent rake you will come to love and Antonia is a woman we would all want to know...a woman with a kind heart and a good mind who crafts devious plans to prove the damn men wrong. Even Queen Victoria supports her. Remington and Antonia are well matched and in an ironic twist will end up advocating each other's positions. The story is detailed, historically accurate and charming. I highly recommend it.

The Last Bachelor is romance for people who love the unusual. It's longer than the usual romance novel, because the author gets deep into her characters and story. And it is nerve tingling romance. I rate this right up there with Diana Gabaldon's writing - it transports you along with the characters into their world. I loved it!